Wexler announcement could trigger Democratic free-for-all
by George Bennett | October 14th, 2009
-
- Graber
-
- Ritter
-
- Ring
-
- Slosberg
-
- Frankel
-
- Deutch
When Wexler sets a departure date, Gov. Charlie Crist will set a special election to represent Wexler’s overwhelmingly Democratic Palm Beach-Broward congressional District 19.
The candidate speculation mill began cranking up Tuesday, with at least half a dozen Democrats getting mention.
Read about them after the jump…..
(Republicans are allowed to run in liberal District 19, but the high-water mark for a Republican in the Wexler era was 34.4 percent by Beverly Kennedy in 1996. The GOP didn’t bother to field a candidate in 1998, 2004 and 2006 and last year’s Republican standard-bearer, Ed Lynch, got only 27.2 percent.)
A quick rundown of potential Democrats, in alphabetical order:
State Sen. Ted Deutch of Boca Raton. The previous two occupants of Deutch’s Senate seat — Wexler and Ron Klein — went on to become Democratic members of Congress. Attorney Deutch was a longshot contender for state Senate against state Rep. Irving Slosberg in 2006 until Wexler’s backing helped him win.
West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel. She faces mayoral term limits in March 2011 and has long had an eye on Congress, losing a 1992 Democratic primary to Alcee Hastings. She wouldn’t speculate Tuesday.
Former Broward County Commissioner Ben Graber. He ran for the seat in 1996, finishing third in a Democratic primary behind Wexler and Peter Weinstein. In 2006, he lost a state Senate primary to Wexler-backed Jeremy Ring. Graber ran as a no-party candidate against Wexler last year and got 6.6 percent.
State Sen. Jeremy Ring of Coral Springs. The former Yahoo exec won his seat with Wexler’s help in 2006 and has made no secret of his interest in Congress.
Broward County Commissioner Stacy Ritter. A former state representative, she was mentioned by Dems as a potential challenger to former Republican U.S. Rep. Clay Shaw. She’s married to prominent lobbyist Russ Klenet.
Former state Rep. Irving Slosberg of Boca Raton. Elected in 2000 as a political novice crusading for traffic safety after his teenage daughter’s death, he appeared headed for state Senate until he got on Wexler’s bad side in 2006 and lost to Deutch. Toyed with challenging Wexler in 2008 but since then appears to have repaired relations with Wexler and other south-county Dems.
Where's the money? Use The Post's interactive database of who wants and who's getting federal dollars.
Use these interactive graphics to find and contact Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast legislators.
Sentenced to die for crimes judged heinous and cruel, inmates await execution in a 9 feet by 6 feet cell.
October 14th, 2009 at 6:48 am
[...] — The Palm Beach Post is reporting that Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Florida) will resign from Congress to head a think tank promoting Middle [...]
October 14th, 2009 at 7:33 am
could not be happier to see this arrogant individual resign this seat.
but it looks like we will be going from the frying pan into the fire, if the equally arrogant Frankel is sucessful in being elected as our senator.
October 14th, 2009 at 8:15 am
The only downside to this carpetbagging Obama puppet Wexler leaving is that it now leaves open the door for West Palm’s Mayor-troll Frankel, and the tireless, one-issue self-promoting Slosberg to step back up to the public trough. One step forward, two steps back.
October 14th, 2009 at 8:31 am
Way to ignore the real story - - WEXLER IS GOING TO JAIL.
The Palm Beach Post is a JOKE.
October 14th, 2009 at 8:36 am
Let Frankel run, she will lose and we may be rid of her once and for all. Put Addie up. lol Oh wait we are already rid of her. lol Ted will take it if he runs.
October 14th, 2009 at 8:38 am
Sounds like he’s a quitter. And the Palm Beach Post is a joke.
October 14th, 2009 at 8:43 am
I love how these political professionals jump into the game when its easy and convenient for them. I heard Edward Lynch on Joyce Kaufman yesterday and saw him on the news last night. He said he wasn’t running because this is easy he said he is fighting for this seat to give representation back to district 19. My district!
October 14th, 2009 at 8:50 am
I hear rumors that Crist is thinking about appointing Foley to take his seat. He already knows his way around Washington and the system and the players and he is a quasi republican like Crist.
October 14th, 2009 at 8:54 am
His replacement can be anyone but Lois Frankel. She has been on the sideline of too many inquiries.
October 14th, 2009 at 8:59 am
Maybe the Republicans will bring Gov. Sanford, and Senators Craig, Vitter, Ensign, all dishonest family value Republican hypocrites to campaign for their candidate here. Bring in drug addict Limbaugh and then you will have the heart and soul of the Republicans. And give Foley a call also.
October 14th, 2009 at 9:53 am
Mayor LOIS FRANKEL is a CORRUPT UNETHICAL FRAUD…..
Frankel is the cause of many of WPB problems. Her games - cronyism - backroom deals and payoffs.
Look where she owns a Condo.. she RENTS - Check out the developer - A “FRIEND”
Frankel talked the CORRUPT JUDGE MARTIN COLIN and his now wife Betst Savitt to buy in there as well. As a “INVESTMENT”
Interesting…
It’s called CORRUPTION! We all know Judge Colin is CORRUPT and Mayor Frankel. Colin is “OWNED” by WEISS & HANDLER the Boca Raton UNETHICAL Law firm.. Colin you recall was REMOVED from the Family Court - “FY” and banished to PROBATE by the “JQC” for his misconduct and unethical acts in the KASMAN matter…
Colin also has a FEDERAL TAX lien Filed against him for approx., 35,000…
A sitting Judge a DEADBEAD tax CHEAT. ON PROBATE know less…
WELCOME TO PALM BEACH COUNTY -
WHERE IS THE STATE ATTY?
WHERE IS THE FLORIDA BAR?
WHERE IS GOV. CRIST?
WHERE IS THE ETHICS BD?
CHECK THE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBITORS LIST and YOU WILL SEE FOR YOURSELF….
THE FEDS ARE HERE!!!!!!!!!!!
October 14th, 2009 at 10:00 am
Henry Handler and Howard Weiss are EGO self indulged LOWLIFES…
BOTH should be indicted and JAILED for there heavy handed CORRUPTION with several Judges on the 15th Judicial.
Judges Like Martin Colin, Diana Lewis, Kenneth Stern, Peter Blanc & Rosenberg..
And a few more I am sure….
WEISS & HANDLER have turned the Courts into there OWN “CANDY STORE” …. Cronyism, CORRUPTION, and backroom deals. Then sending the “TROLL” Carol Kartagener into court to LIE and MISREPRESENTANT to the TRIBUNIAL —
THIS IS PALM BAECH COUNTY - The “NEW CAPITAL OF FLORIDA CORRUPTION” Time Magazine…
The FEDS ae finally here –
October 14th, 2009 at 11:51 am
There will be no free for all. Senator Ted Deutch will be nominated without too much trouble. Remember this is District 19. We recognize quality when we see it.
October 15th, 2009 at 8:37 am
Thank God the Bum is stepping down! This guy lied to us more than any other local politician in recent memory. His actions don’t back up his words especially on Israel. Now he is going to chair a committee to help and protect Israel? The bum is just trying to shore up his image with the old folks while he gets ready to run for the next and higher office. For Wexler, It’s all about image, nothing about substance. With image he can fool the people almost all the time. Want proof? Look at all his supporters, read carefully what he has supported (substance) and ignore completely all his public words (image).